Cotton press lock



Oct 29, 1940- J. J. WALLACE 2,219,970

coTToN PREss'LocK Y "Filed April 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mil JJ Wai/a6' @Helma/134 qi; l cm3 c wx W OCI. 29, 1940. 1 J, WALLACE l 2,219,970

COTTON PRESS LOCK Filed April 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Swim/who@ @AW m e abran/man3'.

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 lUNITED s'TATfEf-s oo'r'roN Pmissllooi;H l

' Jeffrey J. Wal1a`ce,Amite,'La., assignor to Gullett Gin Company, Amite,vLa.v, a corporation Louisiana,

l Application April 19, 1939, seriarN. 268.899v 2 olaims.- (o1. 10o- 19)4 This invention relates to a cotton press box and more particularly to` a locking mechanism for the same.

One object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple means for locking the collapsible sides of a cotton press box. Another object is to provide a power operated cotton press lock. Yet another object is to provide fluid operated means for releasably locking the walls of a cotton press n, in position. Still a further object is to provide hydraulically operated lock mechanism `Ifor a cotton press. Another object is to provide a cotton press lock mechanism which can be readily used in connection with a single or double press,

, as well as in connection with an up or down press.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a double box down press;

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism as viewed in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial transverse cross section substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure '7 is a detail section showing the locking mechanism in unlocked position.

Considering the drawings in greater detail, the features of this :inventive concept have .been shown as applied to a double box down cotton press in Figure 1. It is to be understood, however,

that the illustration is by way of example and not to be taken as a limitation. The invention is equally applicable to the up type press as well as to single box presses. In Figure 1, the arrangement comprises a cotton press having boxes I0 and Il arranged to rotate about a common shaft I2 with the side arms or braces I3 and .I4

of the boxes pivotally mounted upon the vertical` Cotton is fed into the press by way of the chute or conduit I6 and is tramped into the lower box I 0 afterwwhich the, box is rotated toward the right hand position, atiwhich time the upper 'end ortop wall I9 of the press,,(yvlriich; iswthe head of the hydraulic ram) is forced down, thoroughly `packing and pressing the cotton into bale form. 5 The bale may then be released from the press.

Before the cotton is pressed in the box I0, the side walls 20 and 2| are closed together manually and are locked by the locking means 22 which, in this example, is automatically operated 10 for its initial position and then power operated into locking position, after which it is manually unlocked.

Reference being had more particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed that the side arms or 15 braces I3 and I4 carry a plurality of outwardly extending channel members 23 forming the side walls of the box. The side arms are pivotally supported on the vertical shafts I5. 'I'he opposite ends of the box are formed by the walls 24 and 20 25. The outer end of each arm or brace is provided with a hook portion 26 having an arcuate portion 21 for latching the parts in closed position and cam surfaces 28 and 29 for operating the latching mechanism. 25

The latching mechanism itself comprises two bell cranks 3U and 3|, each carrying a roller 32 at one end and each being slotted 33 at its opposite end. Each bell crank is pivoted upon a shaft 34 positioned at either side of the center 30 line of the box. A fluid operated piston 35 has a piston rod 36 to which is secured the pin 31. This pin rides in the slot of each bell crank and causes them to operate simultaneously. The

elongated slots are so organized as to provide a 35 slot and pin connection so that the parts will not bind during operation. The duid pressure being applied in the cylinder 38 of power means 39 forces the piston to the left as viewed in Figure 5, thereby moving the pin 31 into the position 40 shown in Figure 3 in contrast to its initial position as indicated in Figure 7. By this movement the rollers 32 carried by the bell cranks are forced outwardly, thereby engaging the hooks 26 carried by the side walls. 45

The liuid operating system as herein described is a hydraulic system having a reservoir 4U with a hand operated pump 4I. Movement of the pump piston 43 by means of the lever 42 draws fluid from the reservoir 40 into the pump cylinder 50 44 andholds ittherein by means of the check valve 45. Movement of the piston from right to left forces the liquid through the pipe 46 past the check valve 4'I and into the power cylinders 39.

' The hand valve 48 being closed, the bell cranks 55 the side walls toward each other causes the cams 28 to move'the bell cranks into hook-engaging position so that the walls of the press box will not reopen. Although this engagement/is not under power operation, it is primarily for the purpose of keeping the box closed until the operator is able to manipulate the hand lever 42 towork the power lock.

rlAs clearly seen in Figure 1, the mechanism is Iapplied-Y to both boxes of a `double press. The l'mechanism can, however, be applied equally as -well to a single press. -l l l to force said outer ends into the hooks Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated and described, variations within the true spirit and scope of the same are to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. I n a cotton press having end walls and pivoted side walls, means .for locking the side Walls when closed against the end walls, comprising inturned hooks formed on the swinging ends of the side walls, oppositely disposed levers mounted on the adjacent end wall, the outer ends of said levers adapted to engage said hooks, and means connected to the inner ends of said levers to voperate same in unison.

2. The device of claim 1 with cam members mounted on the side walls spaced from the hooks adapted, when the levers are in the opened position, to engage the outer ends of the levers and upon closing of the side walls. Y

JEFFREY J. WALLACE. 

